Bishop Alfred Agyenta, the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Navrongo and Bolgatanga Diocese in Ghana’s Upper East Region, has praised Mr. Clement Akapame for his generous donation of a 48-bed child and maternity block. This facility was presented to the Bishop through the Catholic Health Service to improve healthcare delivery in Wiaga, benefiting the Builsa North Municipality and the surrounding Builsa South District.
The newly established Rev. Father Marneffe Child and Maternity Centre provides significant relief to St. Lucas Catholic Hospital Wiaga, where children and women previously had to share a ward due to limited facilities. This led to inadequate accommodations for patients.
Speaking to the media at the forecourt of St. Lucas Catholic Hospital Wiaga, Bishop Alfred described Mr. Akapame as an evangelist, despite him not being a priest or missionary. “What touches me most is the element of promoting and touching lives. You may not preach the gospel, but you have evangelized through your actions,” he stated.
Mr. Akapame indicated that the project, which cost 4 million Ghana cedis, is a contribution from himself and his family to promote the health needs of the people in Wiaga and surrounding towns. The facility includes a theater, NICU, and labor and delivery rooms, specifically designed for children and women. It is named in honor of Rev. Fr. Philippe Marneffe, a missionary from France who pioneered healthcare services in the region.
Bishop Alfred acknowledged the invaluable role that the Catholic Church plays in providing educational and health services, not just to Catholics but to all, regardless of their religious beliefs. He emphasized that the Catholic Church is second only to the government in health service provision in the diocese and across the country.
He expressed the belief that it is the duty of the lay faithful to support the Church’s various projects, especially in health, education, and socio-economic development. “Gone are the days when the Church in Africa relied on Europe and America for financial support. Today, we must take responsibility for our evangelization activities,” he stated.
Source: mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Ayuureneeya Adongo